Machine for making photographic prints



Patented July 23, 1929.

CESARE BARBIERI AND PAUL CARPENTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAHINE FOR MAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

Application Med January 19, 1921. Serial No. 438,418.

Our present invention relates in general to machines for making photographic prints,

Aand more particularly to machines for producing prints which require treatment by fluids subsequent to exposure to light, and has special reference to the construction of an improved type of so-called continuous machine.

The principal objects of our present invention are the provision of a compact machine by means of which photographic prints may be produced most efliciently, with great rapidity and at small expense; the provision of improved means for feedin the sensitized paper and the tracings to t e machine; the provision of improved means for the prevention of the fogging of said sensitized paper prior to or during its passage over the printing plate; the provision of a photoprinting device having an improved arrangement of opaque and transparent surfaces; the provision in a machine of the present character of improved means for removing air from between the negative and the sensitized tive and the printing plate; the provision of improved means for securing contact between the negative and paper and the plate; the provision of improved means for tensioning the paper during its passage through the machine; the provision of combined spring and gravity actuated devices for such purpose, an generally, to improve, cheapen and simplify the construction of machines for making photographic prints embod ing one or more of the several ste s referre to, together with such further oliijects as will hereinafter appear. p

In attaining the foregoing objects, and certain additional benefits and advantages to be below disclosed, we have provided the construction illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, wherein igures l and 2 are, respectively, a side elevational View, partly in section, and a top plan view with 'certain parts the sake of clarity, illustrating a preferred form of machine embodying our invention.

On inspection of the drawings it will be observed that we have shown a complete machine for making` prints adapted for use in connection with any suitable print treating and drying, and like apparatus. but more particularly apparatus for these pur oses as set forth in our Patent No. 1,292,230, ated January 21, 1919.

paper, and from between the nega-V removed for.

The several parts mentioned, together with certain auxiliary apparatus, are conveniently supported by parallel frame members 10, 11 suitably spaced apart by the said frame members, the mountin for the parts being substantially duplicated for both sides.

It Will be observed that in our printing frame we employ a parti-cylindrical translucent sheet, preferably formed of a sheet 20 of platelass bent into the desired form and supporte by complementarily curved portions `2l of the frame members 10, 11. As a source of li ht for the printing, we utilize a suitable num er of light emittin bodies here ,shown as arc-lamps 22 controlle by switches 22'l and carried by a shield 23. To facilitate the trimming and other care of the lam s and cleaning of the plate the shield 23 is hinged between frame portions 24 as indicated at 25. In order to concentrate 'the rays of the lamps which would otherwise be diffused and ineffective, the shield 23 is provided with a hi lily refractory surface 23, and is curvec as shown.

Since the upper portion of the c linder is relatively inactive photographicall7 to the structure and disposition o the arc lam s, the lower margin of the cylinder is desira ly extended forwardly beyond the upper margin thereof, and also upward in aid of the disc arge of the tracings to be hereinafter ,set forth. As a closure against light emitted above the upper margin of the shield, 23, we provide an auxiliary shield 26 hinged as indicated at 27 tothe feed guide table to be hereinafter referred to. Since the construction described forms for all practical purposes a closed cylinder, to prevent undue heating of the late 20, we provide a fan 28 which is desirably of the positively acting type in order to insure proper ventilation of the c linder and ejection of theA heated fumes there rom.

To the end that the exposed surface of the plate 20 may be varied with consequent variation of the length of time the sensitized paper is exposed to light during its assage over the yprinting plate 20, we provi e movable se ental shields 29 carried in slots 30 in the iilme portions 21, whereby portions of the plate may be rendered opaque thus readily permitting the use of papers of varyin degrees of sensitiveness.

or conveying the sheet of printing paper 31 over the plate 2O as it ulirolls from the roll 32, and the tracing which is to be copied on such paper we employ a pair of supporting rollers 33, 34 suitably journaled in the. frame 10, 11, mounting thereupon an endless belt 35. For tensioning the belt 35, and assuring Contact thereof with the plate the roll 34 should be driven somewhat faster than the roll 33, and in further aid of this object we pass the 'belt over a roller 36 mounted in brackets 37 slidably carried by frame portions 38, turn screws 39, engaging extensions 40, 41 formed on the brackets and frame members respectively, being utilized for taking up any slack in the belt.

To insure the desired straight feed of paper from the roll 32 and prevent fogging and loss of sensitiveness due to premature unrolling or t loosening of the paper the roll 32 is carried sensitive sur 47 pivotallysupported at 48 b in slots 42 formed in upward extensions 43 of the frame members 10, 11 and above it a avity pressure roll 44 rides in such slots and ars'upon it, forcing it down upon the belt 35 where it asses over the roll 33. Further to prevent og 'ng of the `paper as it moves over the perip ery of the roll 33 with its ace exposed, we provide a shield 45.

As an auxiliar to the insertion of the tracings between t e belt 35 and the printing plate 20, we employ a feed guide table 46 supported by the frame members 10, 11, and by which in turn the shields 27 and 45 are con-l venientl supported.

In or er to remove as from between the paper and the tracing, on the one hand, and from between the tracing and the printing plate on the other hand, thus avoiding blank or lightly printed spots, slippages, oli'sets, and the like, we mount in arms the frame members 10, 11, a pressure ro ler 49, employing for its yieldingly resistant support sprin s 50 sustained by frame extensions 51.

As as been suggested the lower margin of the plate 2O should be forwardly extended forl two reasons, first to secure, when desired, full. benefit of the most eicient light rays given olf bythe lamps-22; and, second: inasmuch. as the tracings will tend to follow the contour of the plate, that they may readily separate from the paper and be discharged upon the delivery table 52, instead of tending to fol low the paper around the relatively sharp turn it ta es in its movement over the roll 34.

The arrangement just described is also ad-' far as possible all air posed. It is then ready for treatment by water or other suitable fluid.

For actuating the several arts of the machine, we have above descri ed, we provide suitable driving mechanism preferably employing therein as here shown an electric mosprockets 155 (onevnot shown) and a chain 155 at the opposite end (see Figure 2) drives v the shaft 156 of the roll 33.

Since the fan 28 as wellas the several rolls are all driven by the same motor the operation of the device is greatly simplified. Further. f

more, inasmuch as the bearings of the members 49,33, 32, 44, and 47 are substantially in alinement it is apparent that in the construction of a machine embodying our improvements we have providedl as far as may be against distortion of the paper in its passage therethrough.

In view of the foregoing specification, itis thought that a more am lifieddescription of the operation of the mac ine will be unnecessary and that it will be readily understood by' those skilled in thefart to which our invention' pertains.

Having thus described our invention andv illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1'. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with a printing plate, an endless conveyor mounted about the pel riphery of such plate, and a plurality of driven means for supporting said conveyor, and means for driving members of said driven means at different rates of speed for main- 'A taining said conveyor taut.

2. In an ap aratus of the character described, in com ination, atranslucent print ing plate, an endless conveyor mounted about the periphery of such plate, a plurality of supporting means for said oonveylor, and means for supporting a supply of paper, a positively actuated means for tensioning said conveyor and gravity actuated means for tensioning the paper as it is fed by said conveyor' onto said translucent surface.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

CESARE BARBIERI. PAUL CARPENTER. 

